Caring for Toddlers' Eyes

Those tender toddler eyes aren't just a welcome window to her personality, they're also crucial to her cognitive development. Do your part to keep those pretty peepers healthy by following a few basic steps.

Sometimes they're lit up with energy and other times they're adorably droopy with drowsiness — either way, you can't take your eyes off your toddler's eyes. And they're two of her most active body parts — they’re constantly looking (and learning about) the big world out there. That’s why it’s essential to keep toddlers' eyes in tip-top shape. Here’s how:

Clean with care. The skin around toddler eyes is extra thin and sensitive, so be extra gentle with your face-washing routine. Lightly rub — never scrub — around your toddler's eyes during toddler tub time. If you notice dried-up residue on your tot’s eyelashes (maybe after the sandman’s paid a visit), moisten a soft washcloth with lukewarm water and gently remove the crust. (If necessary, use a dab of diluted no tears shampoo to help the process along.)

Make sure checkups include a toddler eye exam. “Well” visits to the pediatrician are important for a host of reasons, including keeping an eye on the health of those toddler eyes. Tell your pediatrician if you notice your child is having difficulty with her eyes — perhaps she doesn’t seem to see things other people can from the same distance, or squints frequently, or her eyes look crossed at times. The doc will take a look at your toddler's eyes and if necessary, refer you to an ophthalmologist for a more in-depth exam.

Protect eyes from injury. While child injuries that damage toddler eyes and eyelids are blessedly rare, prevention is the name of the game here. If you haven’t already kicked up your efforts of childproofing your home to the next level, now’s the time to look around for toddler-height hazards, like sharp corners on your coffee table or shelves that stick out from the wall. Cushion what you can and conduct a search-and-remove mission for other potential eye-pokers, like pencils, pens, sticks and projectile toys or toys with rods or sharp edges. (These are especially dangerous to toddlers' eyes in the car and also in spaces where your child might be running or jumping.) Always keep your tot at a safe distance when you’re mowing the lawn or working with power tools that create flying debris or dust, and store household cleaners and other toxic substances out of your toddler’s reach — many of these can irritate or damage toddlers' eyes on contact.

Shade toddler eyes from the sun. You’re diligent about applying sunscreen to your child’s sensitive skin, so make sure you protect your toddler's eyes from UV rays as well. Too much sun can make her squint with discomfort (and could even cause cataracts later). Shield her peepers with a wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap and/or a pair of (way cool) toddler shades. As with adult sunglasses, look for unbreakable, scratch-proof lenses that block at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays. And consider a kid-sized elastic sports band to keep her shades in place as she gallops, jumps, hops, skips…you get the idea.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect the Second Year. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.